Apparatus for rotating valves on gas cylinders

ABSTRACT

A cylinder wrench for inserting and removing cylinder valves from pressurized cylinders, and a vise assembly for firmly gripping cumbersome objects such as pressurized cylinders and large diameter pipes. The long-handled vise assembly includes a chain which is wrapped about the pipe or cylinder and then tightened to provide a firm grip. The wrench assembly mates with the cylinder valve and includes a gripping bar that permits high torque to be applied to the valve. Counteracting torque can be applied to the cylinder by gripping it with the vise assembly and bracing the vise assembly handle.

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APPAIFATHJS FUR RQTATHNG @111 Gr/1&9 QYLHNDEIRS lingerie D. Taylor, R0. Bcx 2030, Harlingen, Tex. 78551; Willis R. Swisher, Harlingen, Tex.

Assignee: said Tnyler, by said Swisher Filed: June 10, 1969 Appl. No; 034,940

Inventors:

US. Cl. fill/3, 81/65, 269/130 rm. Cl .JE261 13251) 13/52 Field 61 .....8l/66, 69, 71, 90,119, 3,

Relerenees Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1921 Wright ..81/69 6/1931 Miller.... ..8l/904 UX 9/1960 ..8l/71 7/1949 Jordan ..269/I30 X [151 smnil 5] Jinn. is, 1972 2,968,978 l/l96l Whee1er...- ..8l/66X 1F ORElGN PATENTS OR AIPPLICATKONS 695,569 9/1930 France ..8 H904 Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr.

Attorney-John W. Behringer, Eugene L. Bernard, Martin J. Brown, James N. Dresser, W. Brown Morton, Jr., John T. Roberts and Malcolm L. Sutherland [57] ABSCT A cylinder wrench for inserting and removing cylinder valves from pressurized cylinders, and a vise assembly for firmly gripping cumbersome objects such as pressurized cylinders and large diameter pipes. The long-handled vise assembly includes a chain which is wrapped about the pipe or cylinder and then tightened to provide a firm grip. The wrench assembly mates with the cylinder valve and includes a gripping bar that permits high torque to be applied to the valve. Counteracting torque can be applied to the cylinder by gripping it with the vise assembly and bracing the vise assembly handle.

41 Cl, 6 Drawing llfilgnres PATENTEDJAmm alzsasloa INVENTORS EUGENE. o. TAYLOR WILLIS R. SWISHER ATTORNEYS APPARATUS ll fll't EEGTATIING VALVES @hl GAS CYILllhllllEltS The present invention pertains to a cylinder wrench and to a vise assembly. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a wrench and vise assembly useful for example for installing and removing cylinder valves from pressurized cylinders.

Numerous fluids are sold in pressurized cylinders, frequently termed liquid petroleum gas or LPG cylinders. The fluid within such cylinders is generally at a high pressure, and rigid safety requirements are imposed as to the construction of the cylinder, the cylinder valve by means of which the fluid is passed into and removed from the cylinder, and the manner of mating of the valve and the cylinder. The cylinder valve must be very securely mated with the cylinders in order to ensure the leakproof, tight seal which safety requires. This, of course, imposes difficulties in both the installation and the removal of such valves. The gripping of such a valve by means of an ordinary pipe wrench may permit enough torque to be exerted to accomplish the required installation and removal. However, use of such a wrench on the cylinder valve frequently results in damage to the valve. Such cylinder valves include a handwheel, a vent valve and a cylinder relief valve, and using an ordinary pipe wrench generally requires the removal of the handwheel and the vent valve prior to the wrenching operation. This is a time consuming operation. The cylinder valves requently are of different outside dimensions, making it necessary to have an appropriate wrench for the removal of each size valve. Pressurized cylinders frequently include shielding rings partially encircling the cylinder valve to protect the valve from damage in the event the cylinder falls. These shielding rings prevent the complete rotation of an ordinary wrench, and thus installation or removal of the cylinder valve with such a wrench is extremely time consuming and laborious.

Even when the valve is being removed by means of a wrench such as a pipe wrench, it is necessary that the cylinder be securely gripped so that it does 'not rotate with the valve. These cylinders are bulky and quite cumbersome, and so they are not easily held in place during valve installation and removal.

Any large item having a circular cross section is difficult to grip during the performance of various operations. Thus, for example, large diameter pipe is difficult to hold during such operations as cutting, threading and welding.

The present invention comprises a wrench assembly by means of which cylinder valves are readily removed from pressurized cylinders and a vise assembly by means of which large, cumbersome objects such as pressurized cylinders and large diameter pipes are firmly gripped so that necessary operations can be performed. While capable of numerous uses, both separately and in combination, the wrench assembly and the vise assembly of the present invention are particularly suited for use in installing and removing cylinder valves from pressured fluid cylinders such as LPG cylinders. The vise assembly is capable of firmly gripping the cylinder so that the cylinder can be held in place to permit the ready installation or removal of the cylinder valve. The wrench assembly is adapted to quickly and positively mate with the cylinder valve to permit high torque to be applied thereto so that the cylinder valve can be securely installed or readily removed. The vise assembly includes an adjustable roller chain which tightly encircles the cylinder and a handle which is utilized to prevent the cylinder from rotating. The wrench assembly includes a steel plug which mates with the cylinder valve and which is fastened by means of a quick release pin into a handle which permits a high torque to be applied to the cylinder valve.

By means of the vise assembly of the present invention, pipes and cylinders of any size can be gripped securely while such operations as cutting, threading, welding or installation are performed. With the wrench assembly, cylinder valves are readily installed with a natural, positive wrenching action. As a result, there is less possibility of damage to the cylinder and to the cylinder valve and its handwheel and vent valve. The

handwheel and vent valve need not be removed. The wrench assembly permits 360 rotation of the cylinder valve within the shielding ring. Thus, this simple to operate cylinder wrench speeds up the installation and removal of cylinder valves, removing the hazard from an otherwise undesirable, time consuming chore, while providing greater safety, longer cylinder and valve life, and work time savings.

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent in the following detailed description and claims, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like reference numerals. in the drawings:

FIG. ll depicts the cylinder wrench and vise assembly of the present invention being utilized to install or to remove a cylinder valve from a high pressure cylinder;

HO. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partially broken, of the vise assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the chain assembly suitable for use within the vise assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially broken, exploded view of the wrench assembly, showing the several components thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a broken plan view of an alternative embodiment of a vise assembly in accordance with the present invention.

As depicted in FIG. ll, when it is desired to install or to remove a cylinder valve from a pressurized cylinder, the cylinder lltl is firmly gripped by means of vise assembly 12, while the valve 14 is rotated by means of wrench assembly 16. As seen in FIG. 2, vise assembly 12 includes an elongated handle portion 18, which by way of illustration might be in the order of 24 inches long and might be formed of a hollow steel, for example having external cross section of 1 inch square. Head portion 30 includes first arm 22 and second arm 24. Arms 22 and 24 are formed of hollow steel material such as that utilized to form handle 18. Arm 24 extends beyond handle portion lll, as indicated by extension 26 which forms an angle in the order of 60 with handle portion 13. First arm 22 likewise forms an angle in the order of 60 with extension 26, so that there is an angle in the order of between first arm 22 and second arm 24, and a large pipe or an LPG cylinder readily fits into this location, as seen in FIG. l. The face 23 of first arm 22 has attached thereto a skid resistant surface material 30, for example hard rubber. Likewise face 32 of second arm 2d has a skid resistant surface material 34 attached thereto.

As seen in FIG. 4 chain assembly 36 includes threaded end portion 46 and roller chain portion 418. Wing nut 50 is threadedly attached to portion 36.

Chain assembly 36 passes through extension 26 and second arm 24 to encircle a pipe or an LPG cylinder to which a cylinder valve is to be installed or from which a cylinder valve is to be removed. Wing nut 50 abuts end 51 of extension 26 when chain assembly 36 is positioned. After encircling the pipe or cylinder, chain assembly 36 enters end 38 of first arm 22 and passes through an opening 40 in the side 42 thereof opposite face 28. Clip 44 is inserted through a link of chain assembly 36 to prevent the chain assembly from being drawn back into opening dill.

FIG. 5 depicts wrench assembly 16 which includes wrench handle 54 and threaded plug 52, which mates with the threaded outlet opening of cylinder valve lld as seen in FIG. I. Threaded plug 52 might, for example, be a male POL adapter threaded to mate with cylinder valves. Since the mating outlets of cylinder valves are of standard size regardless of outside dimensions of the cylinder valve, plug 52 enables the ready use of wrench assembly 16 with all sizes of cylinder valves.

Handle 54 includes forked portion 516 which fits snugly but slidingly about plug 52, gripping bar 58, and connecting bar 60 which joins gripping bar Sill to forked portion 56. By way of example, gripping bar 58 might extend a length in the order of 15 inches to one side of connecting bar 60 and a length in the order of 4 inches to the other side. A quick-removing pin 62, which for example might be a cotter pin, is of a size to pass through openings 64 in the two prongs of forked portion 56 and through opening 66 in plug 52, thereby securely holding handle portion 54 and plug 52 together.

When it is desired to install or to remove a cylinder valve from a pressurized cylinder utilizing the cylinder wrench and the vise assembly of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 1, the cylinder is gripped by vise assembly 12. Chain assembly 36 is wrapped around cylinder MD and pulled snugly in place by pulling roller chain 48 through opening Clip 44 is then inserted through the link of roller chain 48 closest arm 28, as depicted in FIG. 2, to hold chain assembly 36 in this snug position about the cylinder. Wing nut 50 is then tightened on threaded portion 56 to pull chain assembly 36 tightly about cylinder 10 so that the cylinder is firmly gripped. Plug 52 is threaded into the outlet opening of cylinder valve 14 until it is finger tight, and handle portion 54 is then fitted about the plug 52 with openings 64 aligned with opening 66. Quick-removing pin 62 is inserted through openings 64 and 66. Handle portion 18 is then braced to ensure that cylinder 10 cannot rotate. As depicted in FIG. I, handle portion 18 might be braced between the legs of the operator. If a taller cylinder is being gripped, handle portion 1% might be braced by the hip of the operator. Alternatively, handle portion 18 might be braced against any solid, sturdy, fixed object. The two ends of bar 58 are then gripped and a twisting motion is applied to cylinder valve 14 by means of wrench assembly 16. The length of gripping bar 58 permits substantial torque to be exerted on cylinder valve 14, while the length of handle 18 permits a similar counteracting torque to be applied to cylinder 10. Since forked portion 56 rotates about plug 52,

' wrench assembly 16 can be utilized with connecting bar 60 in a substantially vertical position, as depicted in FIG. 1. As a consequence, cylinder valve 14 can be rotated 360 even with shielding ring 15 connected on cylinder 110. Thus the cylinder valve is readily inserted into or removed from the cylinder.

Wrench assembly 16 can, of course, be utilized independent of vise assembly 12, if some other means is available to firmly hold cylinder 10. Likewise, vise assembly 12 can be utilized alone to hold a cylinder or to hold any other cumbersome object such as a large diameter pipe.

FIG. 6 depicts an alternative form of vise assembly. in chain assembly 80 utilized with this embodiment, both ends of roller chain 32 are attached to threaded end portion 84. Roller chain 82 passes through hollow handle 86 of Y-bar 88. A pipe of cylinder is gripped by roller chain 80 within the forks of Y-bar 83, and handle 90 is rotated to draw chain 80 tightly about the pipe or cylinder. if desired an offset crank can be included on either handle or threaded portion 84 to aid rotation of one relative to the other.

What is claimed is:

ll. Apparatus for rotating cylinder valves on pressurized gas cylinders comprising:

a. wrench means including:

I. plug means having a head portion and having a male threaded portion with threads adapted to mate with female threads of a cylinder valve; and

2. gripping means having a first portion slidingly mating with said plug means head portion for rotation about a transverse axis thereof and having a gripping portion connected to the first portion and at substantially a right angle thereto, whereby upon twisting of the gripping portion torque is applied to the first portion; and

b. vise means including:

1. a handle assembly having an elongated handle portion, a first hollow ann portion connected to said handle portion and including a hollow extension substantially in alignment with said first hollow arm portion, and a second hollow arm portion connected to said first hollow arm portion to define an obtuse angle and including a free end and an opening in one side; and

2. a chain assembly including a threaded portion extending partially within said hollow extension; aflexible chain portion coupled to said threaded portion and passing through said first hollow arm portion, entering said second hollow arm portion free end and passing out said second hollow arm portion opening; and nut means threadedly mating with said threaded portion outside said hollow extension and having a cross section greater than the cross section of said hollow extension.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said handle assembly further includes first and second slip resistant means on said first and second arm portions respectively and defining said obtuse angle therebetween.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said wrench means further includes a quick-removing pin connecting said first portion to said plug means head portion.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said first portion is a forked portion having prongs which fit about said plug means head portion. 

1. Apparatus for rotating cylinder valves on pressurized gas cylinders comprising: a. wrench means including:
 1. plug means having a head portion and having a male threaded portion with threads adapted to mate with female threads of a cylinder valve; and
 2. gripping means having a first portion slidingly mating with said plug means head portion for rotation about a transverse axis thereof and having a gripping portion connected to the first portion and at substantially a right angle thereto, whereby upon twisting of the gripping portion torque is applied to the first portion; and b. vise means including:
 1. a handle assembly having an elongated handle portion, a first hollow arm portion connected to said handle portion and including a hollow extension substantially in alignment with said first hollow arm portion, and a second hollow arm portion connected to said first hollow arm portion to define an obtuse angle and including a free end and an opening in one side; and
 2. a chain assembly including a threaded portion extending partially within said hollow extension; a flexible chain portion coupled to said threaded portion and passing through said first hollow arm portion, entering said second hollow arm portion free end and passing out said second hollow arm portion opening; and nut means threadedly mating with said threaded portion outside said hollow extension and having a cross section greater than the cross section of said hollow extension.
 2. gripping means having a first portion slidingly mating with said plug means head portion for rotation about a transverse axis thereof and having a gripping portion connected to the first portion and at substantially a right angle thereto, whereby upon twisting of the gripping portion torque is applied to the first portion; and b. vise means including:
 2. a chain assembly including a threaded portion extending partially within said hollow extension; a flexible chain portion coupled to said threaded portion and passing through said first hollow arm portion, entering said second hollow arm portion free end and passing out said second hollow arm portion opening; and nut means threadedly mating with said threaded portion outside said hollow extension and having a cross section greater than the cross section of said hollow extension.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said handle assembly further includes first and second slip resistant means on said first and second arm portions respectively and defining said obtuse angle therebetween.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said wrench means further includes a quick-removing pin connecting said first portion to said plug means head portion.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said first portion is a forked portion having prongs which fit about said plug means head portion. 